If you’re travelling to Spain there are certain restrictions on what you can bring into the country, as well as other items that are completely banned. Here’s what you need to know.
Medicines – The Spanish government states that “Spanish law allows you to carry your own personal medication for treatments of up to three months, as long as it is accompanied by a medical prescription. If you are transporting narcotics and/or psychotropic medication into the country you must get a permit issued by the Spanish health authorities. In this case, you must request e-mail permission from your local Spanish consulate”.
If you want to find out more on the limits for bringing medicines into Spain, click here.
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Meat, cheese or milk – If you’re coming from a non-EU country, animal products such as cheese, milk and meat are banned, as well as certain product derived from them. This also includes pasties filled with meat, yoghurts and big blocks of cheese or cheesecakes.
According to the EU’s website europa.eu, you are allowed to bring limited quantities of fruit and vegetables as well as eggs, egg products and honey, fish and fish products, and up to 10 kilos of powdered baby milk or pet food.
Cash – There is a limit to the amount of cash you can bring with you. Anything more than €10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared to customs officials. The requirement applies to people travelling to or from both EU and non-EU countries.
READ MORE: How much cash can you travel with, store at home or deposit in Spain?
Alcohol and Tobacco – If you are travelling to Spain from outside of the EU, there are stricter limits on the amounts of alcohol and tobacco you can bring in. According to Spanish airport operator Aena, you are allowed 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars and 250 grammes of tobacco. When it comes to alcohol, you can bring 1 litre with a strength of more than 22 percent, 2 litres of alcoholic beverages with a strength of less than 22 percent, 4 litres of wine and 16 litres of beer.
When entering Spain, the amount must be declared and the corresponding taxes must be paid.
If you’re travelling to Spain from another EU country, the alcohol limits are 10 litres of spirits, 90 litres of wine (including a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wines), 20 litres of fortified wine, and 110 litres of beer
110 litres (16 litres for the Canary Islands).
According to Aena, “these maximum amounts are permitted if the alcohol has been purchased in airport shops located after the security checkpoints or on board planes. In any other case, the regulations on liquids in hand luggage apply.
Remember that you should declare tobacco and alcohol even if you’ve not gone over the limits.
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Household goods and other personal items – Spain’s tax agency states that if you’re travelling from a third country to Spain, “the goods contained in your personal luggage will be exempt from VAT provided that they’re not for commercial use”.
Travellers by land can bring goods whose overall value does not exceed €300 per person. Travellers by sea and air can bring merchandise whose overall value does not exceed €430 per person. For travellers under 15, regardless of the means of transport used, the global value of the goods may not exceed €150.
Counterfeit goods such as fake designer clothes or pirated movies cannot be brought into Spain.
Flora and fauna – Species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may not be brought into Spain without the mandatory permits. This includes ivory, turtle shells, certain hunting trophies and parrots. Certain limited exceptions apply.
Pets – Cats, dogs and ferrets that live in Spain or another EU country need a European pet passport to enter Spain. Those travelling from a non-EU country to Spain need an official health certificate certifying that they are up to date on key vaccines such as rabies. A new certificate is required for each trip.
Weapons and tools – It may seem obvious but you cannot bring revolvers, shotguns, gun replicas, air guns, axes, harpoons, rifles and even and razor blades. Furthermore, you can’t enter Spain with drills, knives, pliers, screwdrivers or similar tools.
